A Transylvanian Twist

Anonymous Anonymous, he who is doubly good at being anonymous but paradoxically distinguishes himself in so doing and thus compromises his anonymity, has asked an interesting question regarding a recent Superosity strip:

"What is a Verve Vactor Thirteen and why is there nothing on the Google Box about it?"

Now, the answer to the latter part is of course quite clear. The Google Box simply does not possess the grand heights of wisdom that Superosity does. The core of the question, however, remains befuddling. If it were "Verve Vector Thirteen" there would be little confusion. It would be the thirteenth Verve Vector. Even Google Box would know that, quite probably. "Verve Vactor Thirteen," however? What is the thirteenth Verve Vactor? I do not know, but it is interesting that this is introduced to Superosity's mythology in the very same year of Superosity that is its thirteenth year.

Another interesting addition to the Superosity that occurred this year, one that probably has little to no relationship with Verve Vactors, is that of a monster monarchy. Also of interest is the lizard monarchy that was revealed shortly thereafter, but it remains to be seen whether this is to be expanded on. The monster element, however, has already impacted quite significantly upon the Superosity world that we know. Never again may we ever see the Janitor in the same way. Now we must look at him like this:



In true Superosity fashion, monsters are taken a step beyond the standard fur and spikes and given the option for such features as secondary oesophagi that lead to Hell. This is an exciting concept. Still, the true significance is that an entire subculture has been opened up for possible exploration in future storylines. Superosity was simply too massive to be filled up with such areas as space, time and alternate dimensions. So an entire civilisation has now been unveiled under our very noses, on the contemporary home planet of our intrepid heroes.

That is, two civilisations if you count the lizards. And with Alan's Famous Indian Screaming Lizard being stalked by whats-her-name, can further integration of this royal lineage be far behind? Yes, actually, it can be very far behind given the long game that Superosity plays so artfully. In the meantime, we are left to wonder if Alan's Famous Indian Screaming Lizard would lose its shrill charm if taken beyond its smirk-inducing vignettes.

The Shaming of the Shrew

So we've long passed Chris' honeymoon. His absinthe-moon too has long since expired. It remains to consider how well Superosity has managed this change in its dynamics.

To get the negativity out of the way, it was extremely disappointing to find the couple's paper anniversary not celebrated with a book printing of Superosity. Maybe next year we will see a book printed on cotton, I don't know. It would certainly be nice to have a version of Superosity to read in the bath, but it would be even nicer to already be keeping a copy of the book under my pillow. All I currently have there to console me after nightmares is a hand written nursery rhyme. I need something with more heft to it, with greater versatility. Something that can also be used to beat off nocturnal intruders and hope to inflict more than a paper cut.

Nonetheless, this is not point of primary importance. It is simply the icing on the wedding cake. Maybe also the little bride and groom figurine. What is important is how the stories have been affected.

For the most part, not very much. It has simply meant that storylines involving Arcadia have involved her as wife instead of fiancée. It has certainly allowed for some amusing moments such as Chris delegating his husbandly duties in the usual manner, but for the most part Arcadia has been an unusual wife. She has made few demands on her husband's lifestyle.

That is, until we recently finally found evidence of the shrew within.



We see now that she covets a certain image of married life and in order to meet it demands that Chris expands his own field of experience to encompass more mature roles. Next she'll be wanting him to develop as a person. It just never stops with these women.

Fortunately, we now know that the friendship she chose was with a hastily selected pair who turned out to be crazier than Chris.

It is perhaps fitting that the last image we see of Arcadia is in consequence of her simple plan going horribly wrong.



The storyline changed before we got to see whether the hostage situation was smoothly solved, so for now we are left to dwell on this event. Arcadia is bound. Not only physically by her new friends. Not only spiritually by her marriage. Totally and utterly, by an entire Superosity universe that is far too madcap to allow her to experience the plain aspects of married life.

New Jork, New Jork

With the introduction of Jorkeena, Superosity surprises us all by introducting the controversial theme of incest. Is there anything that Superosity is incapable of dealing with? Apparently not, as it's even able to handle the disturbing idea of Barton having emotions.

What pathos! Handled so adeptly, with such finesse! Such skill! Such talent! Other such synonyms! Perhaps not quite so successfully as would be seen from somebody of more refined technical ability, but these panels do handle the theme appropriately while managing retain the unique Superosity aesthetic. The important thing is that you can look upon that image and know what is going on. Who amongst us has not had the very same experience? Our souls crumpling up in despair as we whimper the name of a beloved one who will never fulfill our heartfelt desire?

Oh, Dot Warner, how I long for your playful smile.

It is the universal experience of the neurotypical, and Superosity manages to mirror it in Barton of all people.

Interestingly, reaction shots were used the week prior to make us laugh at Jork's mounting rage. It must be admitted even by the rabidly faithful that Mr. Crosby's artistic style is not so detailed as to seem capable of managing such humour, but these two strips are surprisingly successful.

Another point of interest seen in the second of those links is the discovery Jork apparently pronounces his name with the English "J" sound- enough so that it can be sensibly mixed up with the word "jerk." As there is no such sound in the Swedish language, one is led to wonder whether his accent is equally hilarious when he speaks his own native tongue.

Happy Birthday Superosity

I... I forgot to get you a present... and I'm calling you late... but that doesn't mean I don't love you! Just think of all the other things I'm neglecting even more badly. I haven't even started that novel which would completely turn the world of literature on its head if I ever completed it. Please don't hate me because I'm lazy.

Happy twelfth birthday. Nearly a teenager, you little scamp you.

Happy New Yearosity, Superosites

2010 may have been the least productive year for Superosity Makes Me Gay, but it has been a spectacular year for Superosity. With Chris finally married, the most significant shift in the comic's dynamic since Barton dying, we wait to see what this means for the strip as a whole.

Arcadia indicates that little has and will change, but there is more to be taken from that exchange. There is possible foreshadowing. There is the way in which their view of their respective situations is revealed: Arcadia sees Boardy's concern as being about the intrusion on his world, while Boardy sees his concern as the danger of Chris being hurt. This tension will likely prove a fertile ground for story in the future.

We have also seen that Arcadia is similarly protective of Chris, so it will be interesting to see what happens with two defenders in the nest... or, you know, a relevant metaphor that actually makes sense. Boardy and Arcadia have an overlapping perception of their respective roles regarding Chris is what I'm saying.

Plus Spaceball's story remains a cliffhanger waiting to be revisited.

Perhaps 2011 will be a better year for Superosity Makes Me Gay. I make no promises except for the promise to make outlandish excuses. It matters little. Superosity remains a giant monument to brilliance, and this tribute blog can never achieve anything more than hunch in its shadows with a laser pointer, occasionally highlighting tiny little flecks of its magnificent surface. Have a nice year, and may your 2011 goggles serve you well throughout.

A Ball Of A Different Manner

In a perfect world, one could read and write about Superosity all day long. This is not a perfect world, and never will be save for the brief period between aliens bringing world peace and somebody translating their mysterious book to discover that it's a cookbook.

A great many noteworthy things have occurred during this particular landmark period of Superosity, including the addressing of an issue that we weren't even aware of being an issue: the strange case of Arcadia's parentage. I suppose Dark Boardy is trying to ensure his own creation or something? I dunno. It would be overwhelming to attempt to address everything. Let us instead return to the start and re-engage with a relatively insignificant aspect that, having been left unresolved, is bound to raise its head again one day in the future. The return of Spaceball.

It is no secret that children's, or "family," media is a major part of Superosity. To call the main character Chris a manchild would be understating the case- his development was arrested so unequivocally that it was shunted directly to the head of death row and now lies buried somewhere in unhallowed ground. So when, long ago, a space-borne character modelled off Madballs was introduced, it was not the least bit outlandish. Some comics might have made do with the Madball reference and left it alone. Superosity, having inured us to eclectic references, had to one-up that by making the brief side-plot which ensued, with its surprise twist ending, was perhaps the greatest moment of that expedition in space.

The return of Spaceball is not likely to match the elegance of that fortnight-and-a-half story which marked his introduction. It is big, it is bold, it contains criminality and the most pervasive alien race of the entire comic. Yet it also brings the little narrative that I've been trying to concoct full circle. It contains two of the most fitting family-movie-like vignettes that Superosity has ever produced. And it does it with an eerie humourlessness that makes the moments stick out of the gag-a-day comic like an image in a 3D movie.

Just look at this. Chris can already fly through space in his nanorobotic suit. That's not the point. That's not the joy of the moment. This is Bastian riding upon Falkor. This is David Freeman navigating Trimaxion's craft for the very first time.

Now examine the stark contrast of the following week's Sunday. This is Elliot trying to convince a world of stubborn adults that ET poses no threat. This is Ernie Henderson trying to come to terms with Harry Henderson's danger.

There are no jokes here. Just the throbbing pulse of Superosity's soul briefly rising to the surface before being pulled back into the depths of its raging chaos. Simple references without elaboration, and yet moments too special to be described with an unmixed metaphor. And they are great.

To The Moon, Alan

Chris' new wife has been corrupted yet again, as originally seen back in the original You Gotta Have Hearts storyline. As this is a repeat of the events which led up to the original placement of the wedding date, there is some probability that this story has been in the works for five years now. It's all very exciting. Maybe we'll even find out how exactly the phrase "I'm all heart" worked to free Arcadia.

But let us move away from these action packed sequences and move back to a more sedate region, where a bewildered audience continues to fret over the outcome. Where a certain Alan, possibly continuing to make googly eyes at Deepskyfrontier, no doubt continues to wear his favourite shirt beneath his suit. A shirt supposedly depicting the very celestial object upon which he is currently standing.

This shirt, this moon-shirt if you will, was recently described to Bobby as having been bought because the picture was mistaken for a golf ball. There is a contradiction here- once upon a time Alan told Terrence Baum that the picture was in fact drawn on by hand. There is the further matter that Bobby claimed that it looked like one of Mickey Rooney's balls, when it has previously been surreptitiously demonstrated that Mickey Rooney's naked arse bears a very good resemblance albeit in a different colour. It's worth also noting that a naked posterior is frequently referred to as a "moon."

All these factors add up to one thing: confusion. But it is a tantalising confusion, one that suggests exciting possibilities. Did Alan purchase a shirt while mistaking the image for one of a golf ball, and later mistake the label to be making reference to the lunar moon rather than Mickey Rooney's moon? Did he come to like the shirt so much that he made another one by drawing a picture on a plain shirt? It's a mystery.